Devin Haney retained the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF lightweight belts on a unanimous 12-round points decision against Vasiliy Lomachenko at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night, in what many considered a disputed decision.
The scores were 116-112 and 115-113 twice.
In what was a tactical fight, Lomachenko made a fast start and also finished strongly in the later rounds which left many fans with the opinion that Lomachenko had done enough to take the decision.
The much smaller Lomachenko started fast and kept up the pace through rounds one to three. Haney was warned by the referee in the fifth round for pushing with his forearm and was also given a warning for holding behind the head in the eighth round.
Lomachenko was in control through rounds eight to 12 as Haney battled against the more skilled Lomachenko and was lucky to come out as the winner.
Haney improved his record to 30-0; 15 and Lomachenko’s record dropped to 17-3; 11.
UNDERCARD
NAKATANI WINS VACANT WBO BELT
On the same card, Junto Nakatani (25-0; 19) won the vacant WBO junior bantamweight belt on a 12th-round knockout against former world champion Andrew Moloney (25-3; 16).
Nakatani scored knockdowns in the second and 11th rounds, and then sent Moloney down and out with a big left hand in the last round. The time was 2:42.
VALDEZ WINS REMATCH AGAINST LOPEZ
Former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (31-1; 23) outscored Adam Lopez (16-5; 6) over 10 rounds on the Haney-Lomachenko undercard in a lightweight bout. The scores were 98-92, 98-91 and 97-93.
Valdez was in control throughout and nearly scored a stoppage win in the last round.
MURATALA WINS IN THE SECOND ROUND
WBO No 12-rated lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (18-0; 15) won on a second-round stoppage against Jeremia Nakathila (23-3; 19) of Namibia. The time was 2:48.
Muhammad Ali’s grandson, middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0-1; 5) and Danny Rosenberger (13-9-5; 4) fought to a draw over eight rounds.
In a lightweight bout, Emiliano Fernando Vargas (5-0; 4) won on a knockout over Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas (3-1; 1).
Junior featherweight prospect Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (9-0; 3) won on a unanimous decision over Luis Saavedra (9-9; 3).
CAMERON RETAINS WBC, WBA, WBO & IBF TITLES
Female junior welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron (18-0; 8) retained her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO world titles on a 10-round majority points decision against the undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor (22-1; 6) on Saturday night at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
The scores were 95-95 and 96-94 twice.
Junior welterweight Jose Felix (40-6-1; 31) upset previously unbeaten WBA No 9 lightweight Gary Cully (16-1; 10) to win on a third-round stoppage. The time was 2:34.
In a junior middleweight bout, JJ Metcalf (25-2; 15) won the IBO belt against defending champion Dennis Hogan (31-5-1; 7) over 12 rounds. The scores were 117-110 twice and 115-112.